"The number of disease outbreaks in the aquaculture industry is on the rise, and an increasing number of fish are dying." This is why the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) has decided to investigate whether the country's leading aquaculture companies have systems, routines, and internal controls that meet regulatory requirements for animal welfare and health. A scrutiny that will also be in the public domain.
After each individual review, all data collected in these revision reports will be published on the Mattilsynet website. The first one is scheduled to be published in March. "We aim to contribute to increased collective learning in the industry," explained Ingunn Midttun Godal, CEO of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. "We expect all aquaculture companies to follow up and learn from the findings revealed through the reports," she added.
Mattilsynet noted that, in Norway, the "significant challenges" related to animal welfare and health in the aquaculture industry are well documented, including by the Office of the Auditor General.
What the Authority is going to implement in 2024 are new inspection methods to address these same issues. It will do so throughout the year and, as mentioned, Mattilsynet reviews will be conducted at six of the largest aquaculture companies, ensuring oversight of their efforts related to animal welfare and health.
"The largest aquaculture companies own the most fish," Mattilsynet CEO argued. "We believe that improvements at the systemic level within these companies will lead to increased welfare for the majority of animals. Any deviations or areas for improvement will be addressed at all levels of the company."
As owners of the animals, aquaculture companies are responsible for the health and welfare of the fish. Godal further stressed that good fish health and welfare are prerequisites for the continued development of the aquaculture industry.
Norway is the leading country in Atlantic salmon production and, although the Authority has not named the six companies to be investigated, it is not difficult to imagine some of these names, especially if we relate them to the recent confirmed news about fish diseases or mortality.
Mattilsynet said the reviews will be addressed to the governing bodies of these aquaculture companies and will be tailored to the challenges and operations of each company. "The revision team is part of our efforts to implement new and more precise inspection methods, aimed at improving the welfare and health of the fish," said Godal.
Likewise, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority also explained that the reviews will be based on the agency's priorities for inspections in 2024, which include aspects such as biosecurity and animal welfare in the context of delousing procedures.
Thus, the companies scheduled for review next year have been selected based on criteria such as size measured by the number of fish - larger companies have a greater impact on the welfare and overall health of the fish, Mattilsynet explained -, or what they have termed "comprehensive picture based on events," referring to aspects such as the number of lice, mortality or regulatory infractions.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Mattilsynet, is a national government agency with a presence across Norway, contributing to ensuring safe food and drinking water for consumers. Its mission is to promote public, plant, fish, and animal health, environmentally friendly production, and ethically responsible care of fish and animals. Its roles include developing proposals for, administering, and providing guidance on regulations, conducting risk-based supervision, disseminating information and knowledge, and maintaining preparedness.